§ 19. Mr. SimsTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the extent to which fares on Network SouthEast are presently subsidised and on the effect on Network SouthEast of the phasing out of the public service obligation grant; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PortilloNetwork SouthEast is planning to invest some £1.2 billion over the next three years. The level of investment in British Rail was recently described by its chairman as
about the maximum rate we can physically manage".According to BR's plans Network South East's investment can be achieved through modest real fares increases while subsidy falls from 13 per cent. to zero.